Superman name for ‘4Real’ baby

A couple whose bid to name their new son ‘4Real’ was blocked now want to call him Superman instead.

Pat and Sheena Wheaton say they will get around the decision by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages by officially naming their son Superman, but referring to him as 4Real.

The couple, who live in New Zealand, were blocked naming their son 4Real by authorities in June.

The Wheatons decided on the name after seeing the baby for the first time in an ultrasound scan and realising their baby was ‘for real’.

They decided 4Real was the best way to write it, but the name was rejected because the registrar said a name had to be a sequence of characters. Why numbers aren’t considered characters any more isn’t entirely clear.

Pat Wheaton said he was considering appealing against the decision through the courts, but whatever happens he won’t be budged on his choice.

‘No matter what its going to stay 4Real,’ Mr Wheaton told the New Zealand Herald, ‘I’m certainly not a quitter.’

A spokesman for the Department of Internal Affairs, which operates the registry told the Herald discussions with the Wheatons about their son’s name were continuing.